Charles Frank (Chuck) Mangione passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Rochester, NY on July 22 at age 84. Chuck is predeceased by his wife, Rosemarie; parents Frank and Nancy (Bellavia) Mangione; and brother-in-law, Fred Shank.

Chuck is survived by his daughters, Nancy Mangione-Piraino (Lee Piraino), Diana (Mike) Smith; brother Gap (Janet) Mangione, sister Josephine Shank; grandchildren Annalise and Sofia Piraino, and Spenser McNamara; great-grandchildren Noah and Wyatt Shumway; nieces/nephews Cheryl (Phil) Yawman, Ardis Mangione-Lindley (Hon. Stephen K. Lindley), Fred Shank (Nancy Spoto), and Jason Mangione (Ghida Rifai) as well as many beloved great-nieces/nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.

Chuck grew up in Rochester, NY, graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School, and received a Bachelors Degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music, where he went on to teach and start the Eastman Jazz program. He later received an honorary Doctorate degree from the Eastman School.

His career as an internationally acclaimed recording artist, flugelhorn player and composer began as a teenager in collaboration with his brother, Gap, when they formed the Jazz Brothers. This early foundation laid the groundwork for a remarkable 60-year career that would see him record over 30 albums, and be nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, winning twice.

Chuck’s love affair with music has been characterized by his boundless energy, unabashed enthusiasm, and pure joy that radiated from the stage. His appreciation for his loyal worldwide fans was genuine as evidenced by how often he would sit at the edge of the stage after a concert no matter how long it took to sign autographs for the fans who stayed to meet him and the band.

In 1970, Chuck’s Friends & Love concert was recorded live with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and featured “Hill Where the Lord Hides.” This led to a recording contract and his first Grammy nomination. Mangione then signed with A&M Records and delivered two extremely successful releases in one year, Chase the Clouds Away and Bellavia. Chuck won his first Grammy for Bellavia, which was named to honor his mother.

During the late 1970’s, Chuck received more awards and accolades for his recordings. He reached new heights with his mega-hit, Feels So Good, which was nominated for Record of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards. The Children of Sanchez double-album soundtrack won the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe Award, then earned Mangione a second Grammy award. Chuck composed and performed Give it All You Got which was the theme song for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid when the “Miracle on Ice” USA Hockey Team won the Gold.

Other career highlights include “Salute to Chuck Mangione” a one-hour TV special hosted by Dick Clark; numerous performing and conducting dates with symphony orchestras across the country, television interviews on The Tonight Show, Larry King, Soul Train, Solid Gold, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore and many others. When Chuck performed in Poland for the 1999 Film and Jazz Festival, his composition “Children of Sanchez” brought the audience to its feet. Unbeknownst to Chuck, the piece had become somewhat of an anthem during the struggle for democracy and many in the audience were in tears, holding their hands over their hearts. In the year 2000, Chuck made his first ever appearance in South Korea to standing room only audiences where Feels So Good has been the top requested instrumental hit for the past twenty years. Chuck received the Eastman School of Music Alumni Achievement Award in 2007. In 2009, he was highlighted at the Smithsonian in an artifacts’ donation ceremony and onstage discussion that paid homage to his illustrious career, artistry, community service, and dedication to jazz education. In 2012, Chuck was among the initial class of inductees into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame which took place at the Eastman Theater, in Rochester, NY. The appreciative crowd was on their feet for Chuck’s performance, with brother Gap, and a variety of other special guests performing a medley of his popular hits.

His generosity, humility and commitment to giving back were clearly seen through events like “Tarantella”, a star-studded benefit fundraiser concert in 1980 for Italian Earthquake Relief which included performances by lifelong friends, Dizzy Gillespie (whom Chuck referred to as his “musical father”), Chick Corea, and Steve Gadd. Chuck inspired the next generation of musicians often performing using high school bands as his orchestra or scheduling children’s matinee concerts where kids in the audience would bring their instruments and come up on stage with him.

Chuck was a lifelong Yankee fan who had the opportunity to play the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium as well as multiple MLB All-Star games. Another highlight was working out with the New York Yankees at their spring training camp at the invitation of his friend and fan, George Steinbrenner.

The family will be holding a private service to celebrate Chuck’s life. To honor his memory and continue his legacy, please enjoy listening to your favorite Chuck songs.